Aston Villa played out a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in a pre-season friendly at Villa Park, with a fine finish from youngster Lewis Hemmings being cancelled out by a second-half strike from the visitors.
Hemmings Opens the Scoring
The breakthrough came in the 34th minute when Hemmings latched onto a through ball from John McGinn and slotted past the Real Sociedad goalkeeper with composure. The goal was a reward for Villa's dominant first-half display, which saw them create several chances.
Unai Emery's side controlled possession and pressed high, forcing errors from the La Liga outfit. Despite their dominance, they could only manage the one goal before the break, with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey both missing gilt-edged opportunities.
Real Sociedad Fight Back
After the restart, Real Sociedad grew into the game. They equalised in the 67th minute when Mikel Oyarzabal converted from close range after a corner was only partially cleared. The goal came against the run of play, but the visitors grew in confidence thereafter.
Villa had chances to regain the lead, with Emi Buendia striking the post in the 78th minute. However, the score remained level, and the match ended 1-1.
Pre-Season Progress
The result continues Villa's unbeaten pre-season record, having won their previous two friendlies. Emery will be pleased with the fitness levels and the performance of his younger players, with Hemmings catching the eye.
Speaking after the match, Emery said: "It was a good test against a strong opponent. We showed good energy in the first half and created opportunities. In the second half, we lost a bit of control, but it's part of the preparation. The young players like Lewis showed their quality."
Villa now turn their attention to their final pre-season fixture before the Premier League season begins.
